What is 16/48 + 5/12?

Here's how we add

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

48 goes into 12 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 4, and get 20, then we multiply 12 by 4 and get 48.

This gives us a new problem that looks like so:

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

16 + 20 = 36

That gives us an answer of

Step 3

Can this fraction be reduced?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

Let's try dividing by that again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 16/48 + 5/12